Give it up for Austen Childs, the University of Louisville tennis player who made to the national championship final in NCAA Tournament singles competition.
The U of L junior, who hails from New Zealand, was defeated 6-1 and 6-2 by Stanford’s Bradley Klahn in Monday’s title match.
Childs entered the tournament unseeded as the 19th-ranked player in the nation. After snapping a nine-match win streak with a loss to Tennessee’s top-ranked John-Patrick Smith in Louisville’s round-of-16 loss in the team championship, Childs opened the singles competition with five consecutive wins.
En route to his runner-up finish, he upset four higher-ranked opponents and avenged four prior losses along the way – including a first-round victory over Smith.
He returns for yet another season next year.
Way to go, Austen. Now you know what it takes. Keep working hard and bring it home next year. Hopefully, beat Klahn next time around.